Machine for printing webs



Nov. 14, 1933. M. STOESSEL MACHINE FOR PRINTING WE BS Original Filed'May 2, 1930 m m m m Patented Nov. 14, 1933 MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS Max Stoessel, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Shellniar Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware 4 Claims.

I This invention relates to an improved method I and apparatus for use in the printing of webs,

or continuous lengths of materiai.

In my co-pendingapplication for Method of web printing, Serial No. 449,309, I have described and claimed a method making use of inks of different types to accomplish certain results. In my co-pending application for Rotary printing assembly, Serial No. 449,303, I have described and I claimed the construction of a printing assembly adapted to print on a continuous web a multiplicity of fac-similes with pre-determined spacing. Said machine having elements adjustable to permit a variation in the spacing of the facsimiles on the web.

This application describes andclaims the combination of the several elements enumerated plus such additional elements as are necessary to obtain, in a commercial way, the results dosired.

In particular, an object of my. invention is to provide a machine to print material, like cellophane, now in use to wrap a great variety of merchandise. This material as ordinarily used is transparent, very thin and not adapted to be handled in sheets over sheet fed printing presses.

A specific object of my invention is to provide a machine capable of printing a moving web of material with primary designs and immediately thereafter printing other designs directly on said primary designs.

I prefer the machine to operate as follows: A primary design is printed on the webwith predetermined spacing, dependent upon the use to which the printed material is to be put. After- :receiving the primary design the web is passed through a series of additional printing assemblies whereby further designs may be printed on the web, a part or all of which may be printed directly on the primary design. Each printing assembly will apply one color ink, or equivalent substance, and may, if desired, emboss the web as w After the web has been completely printed it 45 may be slit into narrow widths and passes over rollers positioned to lengthen the travel of the printed web, and thus provide additional time for drying or setting of the inks before the web is wound on a roll to any desired length.

' In order to provide the proper tension on the web atflll times I provide a novel arrangement of feed rolls capable .ofbeing adjusted for both great and small differences inweb speed, resulting from changes in diameters of plate cylinders.

In carrying out myinvention I prefer to; use

ters of the plate and impression cylinders.

Application May 2, 1930, Serial No. 449,310 Renewed July 22, 1933 a combination of printing assemblies adapted to print the primary design by means of gravure, or intaglio printing, and print the additional designs by means of typographical or relief prin In order to use the same plate and impression cylinders and at the same time provide for changes in the length of web covered at each revolution of the said cylinders, I provide a novel arrangement for changing the effective diame- The same gearing is used to drive the cylinders at all times, and. the, same inking mechanism is likewise used at all times.

In order to illustrate my invention reference is had to the drawing in which like reference numerals represent like parts.

Fig. .1 is a general view of a preferred machine used to carry out my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view'ofa portion of one of the printing assemblies, showing the manner in which the same gearing is used to drive various diameters of plate and imprmsion cylinders.

Referring to Fig. 1, reference numeral 4 is the web of material being printed on. 5 is the frame of the machine. A supply roll 6 of material to be printed is supported at one end of the machine.

Mounted on the frame 5is the printing assembly 7 preferably of the gravure type and comprises a plate cylinder 8 and an impression cylinder 9. Contacting with the plate cylinder 8 is the coating roll 10 operating in the fountain 11. The scraper 12 removes the surplusink or lacquer from the .gravure plate.

Mounted on the frame 5 are the printing assembles ,13, 14 and 15. Each of these assemblies comprises a plate cylinder 16, an impression cylinder 17, an ink fountain 18 and the usual complement of oscillating, vibrating and distributing rolls necessary to ink the printing plates. I

Mounted on the frame 5 is the slitting asse bly 19 for use if it is desired to slit the web into narrower strips, such as are required for cigar a wrapping machines. A series of feed rolls 20 are provided to maintain the proper tension on the web. The rollers 21,22, 23 and 24 are used to permit looping ofthe web and drying of the inks before winding on the roll 25. i

A blower 26 is provided to assist in cooling and drying. the ink forming the primary design.

Power is applied to the shaft 27, and through the gears '28 the impression cylinders 17 and 9 are rotated. I

The friction wheel 29 are driven from the shaft form of 2'7 and serve to drive the slitting assembly 19 and the feed roll assembly 20 though the friction discs 30. It is obvious that moving the friction wheels 29 towards or away from the center ofthe discs 30 will increase or decrease the speed of the assemblies, andin this manner take care of variations in the amount of movement of the web for each revolution of the plate cylinders, with various diameters, which may be used.

Referring to Fig. 2, 16 is the plate cylinder and 17 is the impression cylinder. A spur gear 31 is fixed to the impression cylinder. Meshing with this first gear 31 at all times, is a second gear 32, mounted on a stud 33 supported in the frame of the machine A third gear 34 is positioned to be always in mesh with the second gear '32 and with a fourth gear 35 which is fixed to the plate cylinder androtates therewith. The third gear is supported on a stud 36 which also serves to join the two swinging arms 37 and 38. The outer end of the arm 38 being mounted to rotate about the axis of the gear 32 and the outer end of the arm 37 being'mounted to rotate about the axis of the plate cylinder 16, and gear 35.

By this gearing arrangement it will be notedthat the plate cylinder will be driven with its axis in any of its positions, and since the gears 31 and 35 ''have the same number of teeth, the plate and impression cylinders will always be rotated the same number of revolutions per minute.

I claim:' v

1. The combination in a web printing machine, of a printing assembly adapted to. operate with various diameters of plate and impression cylinders, rolls for feeding said web to maintain the I proper tension thereon, means for slitting said,

web, and means for varying the speed of said web feeding rolls and said web slitting means to com- 'web, and adjustable driving means for said web feedingrolls and said web slittingmeans, whereby the variation in movement of said web which results when said cylinder diameters. are varied may be compensated for.

3. The combination in a web printing machine, a

of a printing assembly adapted to operate with various diameters of plate and impression cylinders, rolls for feeding said web to maintain the proper tension thereon, means or slitting said web, and adjustable friction driving means for said web feeding rolls and said web slitting means, whereby the variation in movement of said web which results when said cylinder diameters are varied may be compensated for.- I

4. The combination in a-web printing machin of a prin ing assembly adapted to operate with various diameters of plate and impression cylinders, means for slitting said web, and means for varying the speed of said web slitting means to compensate for the variation in movement of said web which results when said cylinder diameters are varied.

MAX STOESSEL. 

